Resistance to German-led Axis occupation occurred all the way across the European continent during the Second World War. It took a wide range of forms – non-cooperation and disinformation, sabotage, espionage, armed opposition and full-scale partisan warfare. It is an important element in the experience and the national memory of the peoples who found themselves under Axis government and control. For over thirty years there has been no systematic attempt to give readers a panoramic yet detailed view of the make-up, actions and impact of resistance movements from Scandinavia down to Greece and from France through to Russia.

This authoritative and accessible survey, written by a group of the leading experts in the field, provides a reliable, in-depth, up-to-date account of the resistance in each region and country along with an assessment of its effectiveness and of the Axis reaction to it. An extensive introduction by the editors Philip Cooke and Ben H. Shepherd draws the threads of the varied movements and groups together, highlighting the many differences and similarities between them.

The book will be a significant contribution to the frequently heated debates about the importance of individual resistance movements. It will be thought-provoking reading for everyone who is interested in or studying occupied Europe during the Second World War.

Text from a scholar of the Resistance. Thoroughly researched - wider coverage than usual in Cooke's texts. Well presented material!

Amazon Customer Review

Brilliantly researched resistance history

European Resistance in the Second World War, edited by Philip Cook and Ben Shepherd is an excellent summary of the resistance movements during the war across all theatre in Europe. Let me get all anorakie but this has some excellent end notes at the end of each chapter along with further reading suggestions. This book is first a useful addition for the general reader of history as well as the student of history. It will also help to fire further interest in aspects of resistance which is always important. The chapters are well written by historians who know the subject matter well.

Even if you are interested in only one country and its particular take on resistance the introduction and Chapter one are required reading as they give you the real premise of the book and also many ideas for further investigation. There are always arguments that resistance was not that important in the grand scheme of things but that would be for you alone to formulate as to whether you agree or disagree. But certainly shows that Churchill's order to his Minister Hugh Dalton to "set Europe ablaze" was important for morale in occupied countries.

Buy this, learn from it and do the suggested reading and make you own mind up.

Amazon Customer Review

A fascinating, thought provoking book.

Angela Youngman

European Resistance in the Second World War, edited by Philip Cook and Ben Shepherd is an excellent summary of the resistance movements during the war across all theatre in Europe. Let me get all anorakie but this has some excellent end notes at the end of each chapter along with further reading suggestions. This book is first a useful addition for the general reader of history as well as the student of history. It will also help to fire further interest in aspects of resistance which is always important. The chapters are well written by historians who know the subject matter well.

Paul Diggett

About Dr Philip Cooke

Dr Philip Cooke is senior lecturer in the School of Humanities at the University of Strathclyde. He is the author of many works on the Italian resistance, including The Italian Resistance: An Anthology and The Legacy of the Italian Resistance. He is also joint editor of the quarterly journal Modern Italy.

About Dr Ben Shepherd

Dr Ben Shepherd is a reader in history at Glasgow Caledonian University. He specialises in the military history of Germany and Austria during the first half of the 20C, with particular focus on the origins and conduct of counter-insurgency warfare. He is the author of War in the Wild East: The German Army and Soviet Partisans and Terror in the Balkans: German Armies and Partisan Warfare. He is also co-editor of the edited collection War in a Twilight World.